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With Jones out, Hogs turning to Gasaway?

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Star City’s Jax Gasaway has heard from Arkansas.

After Pulaski Academy’s Luke Jones flipped his commitment to Notre Dame earlier this week, Arkansas has reached out to the 6-foot-7, 275-pound three-star lineman, according to Richard Davenport of Recruiting Thursday at WholeHogSports.com.

Both Jones and Gasaway, along with Jonesboro’s Noah Gatlin (already committed to Arkansas) were named to USA Today’s All-Arkansas team on Wednesday.

Some recruiting observers have said they were more impressed with Gasaway at some of the summer camps than Jones, but now it appears the Hogs are interested.

Arkansas’ Dustin Fry reached out to Gasaway via Twitter on Wednesday night and plans to see him when the January contact period begins.

“He just told me he was going to come see me as soon as recruiting opens back up,” Gasaway told Davenport.

The NCAA contact period which allows college coaches to visit prospects off campus began Nov. 26. The dead period started Dec. 18 and will run through Jan. 11. The contact period resumes the next day.

Gasaway has 11 scholarship offers from schools like Arkansas State, Louisiana Tech, Texas State, Marshall, Louisiana- Monroe and Air Force. He was named to the first team Arkansas Democrat-Gazette All-Arkansas Preps team on Sunday.

 

Nutt going into Cotton Bowl’s Hall of Fame

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Former Arkansas and Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt will be inducted into the Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame in May.

The exact date has not been finalized.

Nutt led the Razorbacks to Cotton Bowl appearances in 2000 and 2002, including a 27-6 win over Texas in 2000, in which Arkansas became the first team to ever hold the Longhorns to negative rushing yards in a game.

Arkansas also appeared in the 2008 Cotton Bowl, but Nutt did not coach in the game.

Nutt is one of five coaches to lead more than one school to the bowl. He also took Ole Miss to back-to-back Cotton Bowls in 2009-10 against Texas Tech and Oklahoma State, winning both.

The former coach and current college football analyst led Arkansas to 75 wins in 10 seasons and an appearance in the 2006 Southeastern Conference Championship Game.

Nutt will be the sixth Arkansas player or coach inducted into the bowl’s Hall of Fame, joining Frank Broyles, Lance Alworth, Fred Marshall, Jim Williams and Loyd Phillips.

The 2018 Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame class:

• Arkansas-Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt

• Texas A&M linebacker Quentin Coryatt

• USC coach John Robinson

• Penn State running back-linebacker Wally Triplett

• Texas running back Ricky Williams

• Oklahoma safety Roy Williams

Would Morris actually consider Trooper Taylor?

Andy Hodges
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Until Chad Morris officially announces a coaching staff, there’s going to be one rumor after another.

That’s the nature of the world of college football these days.

Wednesday, the latest rumor on the defense wasn’t surrounding John Chavis as defensive coordinator. By now it would be a surprise if that doesn’t happen.

No, this one was Arkansas State secondary coach Trooper Taylor might be one of Morris’ choices to fill out the defensive staff.

Seriously. The folks throwing this one out are convinced it’s a real possibility. Excuse me, but I’ll have to see this one before believing it.

Taylor has been named several times on lists of the top recruiters in college football. That was mostly during his tenures at Auburn, Oklahoma State and Tennessee.

He sorta deflected that in an interview with AuburnUndercover.com in a 2016 story before he returned to Auburn with Arkansas State:

“I was named a ‘top 25 recruiter’ a couple times, but I never signed a single kid on my own. If I was recruiting a running back, and the running back coach was awful, do you think I could recruit a running back to my school? No. It takes a village. You might get credit because he’s in your area or he mentions your name a lot. But I can promise you this: It took all of us.”

The truth is, though, the only way this makes sense is for his recruiting ability.

Other than running around waving a towel and wearing his hat backwards (which should never be done by any male over the age of 6) there doesn’t appear to be a reason to bring him to Fayetteville.

Don’t listen to all the stuff about NCAA investigations and all that. Yes, it happened at Auburn in 2012, but no wrongdoing was uncovered. Whether they keep an eye on him or not, well, the group in that Kangaroo Court are the only ones that can answer that.

That shouldn’t even be an issue, although there will many in the Great Unwashed in the Razorback Nation that throw that one out there because they refuse to believe otherwise.

No, I don’t think it will happen simply because it would be shocking for anybody with the Hogs to hire anybody from ASU.

Whether it’s been done before I don’t know. I can’t remember anyone going straight from Jonesboro to Fayetteville. Houston Nutt was an assistant there for a year, but that was five years before taking over the wide receivers for Jack Crowe and 13 years before he got the head coaching job.

Would Morris actually hire Taylor?

He was the assistant head coach for Phillip Fulmer at Tennessee from 2004-07. He did play defensive back in college at Baylor and coaches the secondary over in Jonesboro.

In case you’re not aware of it, Chavis was the defensive coordinator on that staff.

And, naturally, these days that’s enough of a connection to get a good rumor going.

Or is it more that just a rumor?

Barnes on loss to strong Razorbacks’ team

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Callfornia State-Bakersfield coach Rod Barnes, who previously coached at Ole Miss, talks about the loss to Arkansas on Wednesday night.

Anderson talks about team overcoming sluggish start

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Arkansas coach Mike Anderson talked with the media after the Razorbacks’ blowout win over Cal State-Bakersfield on Wednesday night.

Barford, Macon pace Hogs to blowout over CSU

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas used a second-half run Wednesday to cruise past Cal State-Bakersfield, 95-68, in its final game before conference play.

The 27-point win is Arkansas’ sixth by 25 or more points this season, as the Razorbacks eclipsed the 90-point mark for the eighth time in 12 games.

Arkansas’ leader in dunks Daniel Gafford, electrified a toasty Bud Walton Arena early, as the freshman forward slammed home the Razorbacks’ first two baskets of the game, including an alley-oop dunk in transition.

After trailing 3-0, Arkansas would score 10 straight to claim a 10-3 lead.

Arkansas would lead by as many as 11 in the first half, but the Roadrunners would claw back before the break and tie the contest at 38-38.

The Razorbacks would score the final four points of the half to take a 42-38 lead into the locker room. It is the 10th time in 12 games that Arkansas has led its opponent at half this season.

Senior Dustin Thomas recorded his first double-figure scoring effort of the season, leading the Razorbacks with 10 points and five rebounds in the first half. It is just the fifth time as a Razorback that Thomas has scored 10-plus points in a game.

After just one made basket and five total points in the first half, senior guard Daryl Macon hit Arkansas’ first two shot attempts of the second half, both from deep, to stretch Arkansas’ lead back to 10.

Following a Bakersfield basket, senior guard Anton Beard would duplicate Macon’s run, hitting back-to-back, wide-open three-pointers. This was all part of a 14-2 run to open the second half that gave the Razorbacks a 56-40 lead.

Arkansas would maintain a lead that hovered around 12, before senior guard Jaylen Barford took over. Barford would score 12 points, including eight straight, as part of a 16-2 run by the Razorbacks to give Arkansas an 80-55 lead.

Barford would finish with a game-high 19 points, while Macon scored 16 points and tied his career high with eight of Arkansas’ 15 assists. Beard finished with 15 points and freshman Darious Hall tallied 14. Gafford pulled down a season-high 12 rebounds to go along with six points.

Arkansas’ ball security continues to be a key for the Razorbacks. Arkansas turned the ball over just nine times Wednesday, improving its streak to five straight games with less than 10 turnovers.

Next up for Arkansas is the 19th-ranked Tennessee Volunteers, as the Razorbacks open conference play on Saturday against the Vols in a noon tip-off in a sold-out Bud Walton Arena.

Game Notes

• Arkansas has a 10-game winning streak in Bud Walton Arena, dating back to last year.

• The Razorbacks have a season-long five-game winning streak.

• Arkansas has won 21 consecutive non-conference games in Bud Walton Arena.

• The win gives Arkansas seven straight wins in Bud Walton Arena (7-0) to start the season for the fifth time in seven seasons under Mike Anderson.

• In seven games in Bud Walton Arena this year, the Razorbacks are 7-0 with a +179 scoring margin, including a +123 scoring margin in the first half.

• For the first time since the National Championship run in 1994, Arkansas has scored 90-plus points in eight of its first 12 games.

• The Razorbacks have five straight games with fewer than 10 turnovers for the first time in the last 20 years.

• During the Mike Anderson era, Arkansas is 115-7 in games it led at the half, including 30 consecutive victories.

• Arkansas is 10-0 this year when Daniel Gafford records at least one dunk. He has 28 dunks, which is more than six teams in the SEC.

Jones flips from Razorbacks to Notre Dame

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Pulaski Academy offensive lineman Luke Jones flipped his commitment from Arkansas to Notre Dame on Wednesday afternoon via Twitter.

Jones, 6-5, 290 pounds, originally committed to Arkansas and former coach Bret Bielema in July over scholarship offers from Oregon, Arizona State, Missouri, Virginia, Iowa State, Tulane and several others.

He made an unofficial visit to South Bend for the USC game Oct. 21 and an official visit to South Bend on Dec. 8-10.

He unofficially visited the Hogs several times and made an official visit to Fayetteville on Dec. 15-17.

Jones told Hogs coach Chad Morris, Dustin Fry and Barry Lunney of his decision before going public with his pledge.

Bruins coach Kevin Kelley was one of the first to send well-wishes to his player, but with a twinge of unhappiness.

Jones is at least the third Razorback target to choose to go out of state in this recruiting cycle.

Earle quarterback Gerry Bohanon decided to go to Baylor, Charleston athlete Sean Michael Flanagan flipped from Arkansas to Oklahoma State and now Jones.

 

KNWA VIDEO: Neighbors on Grambling, game notes

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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VIDEO BY KNWA

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas returns from the holiday break hosting Grambling State in the final non-conference game of the 2017-18 season.

The Razorbacks (8-4) and Tigers (3-7) meet in Bud Walton Arena on Thursday for a 7 p.m. tip and the game will air on the SECN+.

The Razorbacks lead the league and rank fourth in the country with just 11.4 turnovers per game. They are also first in the SEC and 11th in the nation with 340 3-point field goals attempted this season.

Scouting Arkansas

The Razorbacks are coming off a tough loss at Arizona State before the holiday and are looking to bounce back before starting Southeastern Conference play.

Malica Monk continues to lead the team. The North Little Rock native is averaging 17.8 points per game and ranks in the top five in the SEC for field goal attempts, minutes played and free throw percentage.

Monk has made 18 consecutive bonus shots.

Scouting Grambling State

The Tigers are 3-7 on the year with three players averaging double figures. Shakyla Hill leads the team with 13.3 ppg and is also the team’s leading rebounder with 6.6 boards per contest.

GSU has lost four in a row heading into the contest with Arkansas.

Up Next
The Razorbacks open SEC play hosting Ole Miss on Dec. 31, at 2 p.m.

The home SEC opener snaps a three-game streak of road league openers and is only the 10th time since joining the conference that Arkansas opens at home.

Is Chavis ‘best’ defensive coordinator Hogs can get?

Andy Hodges
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When Chad Morris officially took over at Arkansas on Dec. 7, he told folks he was going to get the best defensive coordinator in America.

Give him this, he hasn’t backed off that statement. That is a big reason many Razorback fans have held out hope he was talking about his good friend Brent Venables.

Sorry, folks, that ain’t gonna happen. Venables likes the job he has at Clemson and is not going to make a sideways move, even for a couple of hundred thousand extra dollars. Unless the money is stupid high, good coaches don’t make lateral moves for some extra bucks.

Which is why Texas A&M defensive coordinator John Chavis is usually the next name mentioned and he’s the one we’re hearing will be the next defensive coordinator.

Speculation is an announcement could be coming as soon as next Tuesday. He is coaching the Aggies defense in the Belk Bowl (11 a.m. Friday on ESPN).

It is assumed he is not going to be retained by new A&M coach Jimbo Fisher, but it’s a ticklish situation with the contract extension he signed prior to this season, according to a story last week in The Dallas Morning News:

It also elaborates on what happens if A&M fires Chavis without cause.

Under those circumstances, the defensive coordinator is still required to look for another job to offsets the remaining amount of the contract that A&M owes him. However, the new deal specifically states Chavis has agreed to make “reasonable and diligent efforts to obtain employment with compensation at market value.”

A&M also has the right to request evidence of Chavis’ efforts to find another job, a stipulation that was mentioned in the original deal. Mediation to any potential disputes between both sides regarding a future buyout was also added.

That one clause could open the door for the Hogs to openly talk with Chavis or his representatives.

But many fans question if Chavis is the right choice, mostly because his defenses with the Aggies never ranked higher than 41st in his first season there.

Over a 23-year career as an SEC defensive coordinator at Tennessee (1995-2008) and LSU (2009-14), Chavis’ defenses stacked up, well, an average of 21st prior to going to A&M.

He had defenses ranked in the Top 5 three times, in the Top 10 six times and 14 defenses ranked in the Top 20.

His highest ranked defense was in 2008, when the Vols finished No. 3 in his last season on Rocky Top.

That may or may not satisfy your qualification as the best defensive coordinator in America.

Some want the Hogs to find the best up-and-comer in coaching, which is a valid point, but the guess here is unless something derails it, Chavis will be the next defensive coordinator.

 

Anderson on facing old friend Barnes, Roadrunners

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Arkansas coach Mike Anderson talked about Wednesday night’s matchup with Cal State-Bakersfield, coached by former Ole Miss coach Rod Barnes.

Razorbacks compete for chance in Commonwealth Games

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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FAYETTEVILLE — Two current Razorbacks and a 2018 signee competed in trials for the 2018 Commonwealth Games over the past week.

Senior Chloe Hannam and 2018 signee Anna Hopkin each competed at the Swim England National Winter Championships last week at Ponds Forge International Sports Centre in Sheffield, England.

Hannam competed in the 400m individual medley and the 100m and 200m backstroke. The Lincolnshire, England, native finished fifth in the 400m individual medley prelims at 4:55.33, qualifying for the A-final, where she touched in 4:52.15, holding her fifth-place showing.

She touched 15th in the 100m backstroke prelims in 1:03.87 to qualify for the B-final. There, she touched second in a personal-best 1:02.82. In the 200m backstroke, she touched first in the prelims in 2:13.48. In the finals, she touched fourth in 2:12.95.

“It’s always exciting when we have our team members trying to make their national teams for upcoming international competition,” said Razorbacks coach Neil Harper. “Chloe had a great showing and proved to everyone that she has successfully come back from her major surgery. By going a personal best, she has proven all the doubters wrong and is continuing one of her best years ever.”

After signing with the Razorbacks in November, Hopkin competed at the Winter Championships, representing the University of Bath in the 50m and 100m freestyle and the 50m butterfly. Hopkin finished first in the 50m freestyle prelims in 25.39.

In the finals, she claimed a podium finish, touching second in 25.33. In the 50m butterfly, the 2018 signee touched sixth in the prelims, finishing in 27.69. In the finals, she touched fourth in 27.24.

She touched second in the 100m freestyle in 55.14. In the A-final, she held her second-place showing with a time of 54.76 for her second podium finish of the week.

“Anna was the fastest English woman in the 50 and 100 and hopefully has gained selection for the English Team which will be announced soon,” said Harper.

Senior Razorback diver Nicole Gillis competed at her respective trial for the games, finishing third on both the 1m and 3m springboards.

“Nicole traveled all the way back to South Africa and placed in the top-three in both 1m and 3m. We will know more about her selection in the near future.”

 Arkansas’ next dual meet is Saturday, January 13, when the Razorbacks host the Tennessee Volunteers at 10 a.m. in the HPER Natatorium. Razorback divers will be in action prior to that in Knoxville, competing at the Tennessee Diving Invite from January 3-5.

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